Catapult.



e. P. VAN WYE. 1

CATAPULT.

APPLICATION FILED mu. 1911.-

-1,227,222. Patented May 22, 1911.

GARRY P. VAN WYE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CATAPUL'I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed January 24, 1917. Serial No. 144,148

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GARRY P. VAN Wyn, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Catapult, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to catapults, used in throwing projectiles, or other objects, and has for its purpose: 1, to provide a catapult of comparatively light weight in proportion to its power, and compact in form; 2, to provide a catapult so constructed that a number of them can be operated by men in comparatively close ranks; and, 3, to provide a catapult which can be readily, and accurately operated vwithout necessarily exposing the operators.

The invention 'is illustrated in the ac companying drawing, in which- Figure 1, is a side view of my improved catapult in one of the positions it would likely be held when being operatedthe position of the throwing member at the end of the operation being indicated with dotted lines;

Fig. 2, is a plan view of the catapult, with the throwing member in position for throwing-the movement of some of the movable parts being indicated with dotted lines;

Fig. 3, is a sectional view, on the line 33 of Fig. 2showing an end elevation of the throwing member; an elevation of the releasing trigger arrangement; an elevation of the segment and its mountings; and an elevation of the means for holding and spacing the springs-the other parts of the catapult being omitted, or broken away; and

Fig. 4, is an end view of the non-swinging part, or member.

In the drawing like numerals of reference refer to the same parts in each ofthe views.

In practice I provide two'members'of substantially the same length, one of which, the throwing member 5, is pivotally mounted on the other member, or nonswinging member 6, adjacent to the end of the throwing, or swinging member 5, whereby the said throwing member is provlded with a long end 7, and a short end 8, on which is mounted a grooved segment 9, preferably in the following manner: Two plates, 10, and 11, are cut circular in form, as shown at 12, in Fig. 1, and are suffi two members, 5, and 6;

ciently wide to include theshaft 13, which forms the pivotal connection between. the The end of the sides of the member 5, extend transversely of these plates; and are secured thereto by bolts 14, passing through from side to side beneath the curved segment 9, which bolts are not limited to the end of the sides composing the member 5, but pass through the plates 10, and 11 at various points so that the segment is firmly supported against being drawn toward the pivotal point or shaft .13, from any direction. These plates are also preferably provided with projections 15, in which. is mounted a short shaft '16, which may be held in placewith cotters 17 and around thisshaft 16, is secured one end of a'wire cord 18, which extends around the segmental pulley, and is "connected with the operating springs, which will'be hereinafter described. f

The member5, besides the segmental part i just described, comprises two elongated side bars 19, and 20, preferably spaced apart by two strips of steel 21, and 22; and the side strips, also of steel, are bolted, or riveted together, as clearly shown so that the strips 21, and 22, formspacing and strengthening strips. As all these partsxare'of' steel, a light, strong construction isthe result. On the end of this member maybe mounted a receptacle 23, forlholding the missiles, as will be understood; or the missiles may be held in any desired manner. The special means for holding the missiles forms no part of my present invention; and the receptacle 23, is shown -more to illustrate where themissile is held rather than to show a special meansfor holding it. I may also provide the segment 9, with projections 24, and 25, through which bolts or rivets maybe passed so the segment'can not be unseated from its position between the plates, as will be clear.

The non-swingingimember 6, is composed of two side strips of steel, 24, and 25, which are spaced apart by a strip of steel, or suitable material 26, and bolted together with bolts 27, disposed above and below the strip 26, in a manner to hold it securely in place, and at a sufficient distance above the bottom of the sides so that the clamping bolts will have a firm hold on the side strips, as will be understood. I

On the front end of the member is mounted a frame composed of'two uprights 28,

and 29, bolted in place,.and braced respecturns; and provides room for the end 8, of

the swinging member to move freely and carry in its movement the segmental part, as will be understood. I also mount on this shaft two sleeves 32, and 33, to space the swinging member centrally of the shaft 13, as will be understood.

Any number of operating springs may be used; but in practice I prefer to use three springs, 34, 35, and 36. These springs are mounted between the plates 37, and 38, which are practically alike, so that in showing an elevation of one of these plates in Fig. 3, a detail of both plates will be clear. The only difference between the plates being that the plate 38, has a tapped hole 39, in

which is threaded the adjusting "bolt 40,

which passes through the elevated plate 41, mounted in the ground-engaging end of the member 6, or adjacent thereto, as clearly shown, so that by engaging the end, or head 42, of this bolt, and turning the same, the plate 38, will be moved longitudinally, as

will be clear, and the tension of the operating springs will thereby be adjusted, as will also be clear.

The other plate, or the plate 37, is pro-' vided centrally with a hole similar to the hole 39, except that it is not threaded; and the cord 18, passes through this hole, and is secured in any desired manner, whereby when swinging the member 5, on its pivotal point, the cord will be engaged by the segment 9, which will hold the force of pull at a fixed distance from the pivotal shaft 13, as will be clear, thereby making the pull on the operating springs uniform so far as the power is exerted on the same by the throwing, or swinging member during the swinging of this member, and as the cord 18, is fastened only on the shaft 16, which may be easily removed by removing the cotters 17 the cord 18, will be held on the segment only by the force of pull of the springs, and by the shaft 16, as will be clear.

I also provide a trigger arrangement comprising an engaging piece 43, which is pivotally held on an angled piece 44, mounted on a standard 45, secured in any desired manner to the side 24, of the non-swinging member, which may be stiffened by a piece 45. The trigger plate 43, is provided with a toe 46, which is engaged by a pivoted piece 47, which may be operated by a cord 48, against the action of the spring 49, as will be understood, whereby the trigger may be released, and the swinging, or throwing member will be free to swing. This trigger member is provided with a projection 49", which when the trigger is in the position shown in dotted lines, will be engaged by the swinging member and the trigger will be forced into engagement with the swinging member when the same is forced down, as will be clear. A space 50, is also left, between the upright 45, and the point 51, of the tripping plate 47, so that if the trigger is forced farther over than necessary, the toe 46, thereof can pass within this space to force the tripping plate against the action of its spring 49, to automatically set the trigger.

The cord 48, is secured at the forward end to the handle 52, so that the hand grasping this handle can pull the cord to trip the trigger, as will be understood. I also provide handles 53, 54, and 55, by which the catapult may be held in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the member 6, may be used for elevating the swinging arm, and the member 5, maybe used for throwing. It will be understood that two men will hold the catapult in the elevated position for throwing, as I find in practice that in order to throw missiles'weighing two pounds, or more, springs of considerable stiffnessmust be used thereby requiring sufiicient weight in the members to give the required strength and rigidity. Thus, the

springs that are required are of suflicient stiffness to require two men to exerttheir force to swing the member 5, down to engage the trigger, and as two men are required for this purpose I have provided the four handles so both men can exert their power to hold the members at the desired angle for firing, or throwing the missiles.

In practice I find that better results can be obtained by stopping the throwing memher while still at an obtuse angle with the non-swinging member, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. To stop the throwing memher in its desired relation to the non-swinging member, I provide the spring stops 56; and the shaft 16, is made of sufficient length that'the ends will engage the spring stops while permitting the segment and end of the throwing member to rotate freely between the springs, as will be clear.

In order to prevent the bottom of the nonswinging member from. jumping when the throwing member engages the stop springs 56, I provide a prong 57 which may be slid along a bolt having a thumb nut 58; and this plate, or prong is held against upwardv movement by the adjusting, or'end plate 41, as will be clear. I

The operation will be readily understood when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the above description. l/Vhen it is desired to use the catapult, the, springs are connected with the shaft 16, carried above the segment 9, and proper tension is given to the springs by turning the bolt 40, as will be understood. When the tension is properly adjusted the swinging member is drawn down against the ten sion of the operating springs until the member engages the point, or projection 49 of the trigger, and by pressing the member farther down the trigger will be rotated to engage this member,-and hold the same substantially parallel with the non-swinging member until ready to discharge the missile.

' The missile to be thrown is thenplaced in the receptacle 23, or mounted on the end of the throwing member in any desired manner. The catapult is then elevated manually at one end with the end carrying the prong engaging the ground. The distance the missile will be thrown will depend largely on the angle at which the catapult is held when the trigger is operated. Thus, by practice a missile can be thrown at any point desired within the range of the throwing power of the springs, as will be understood.

By making the members of substantially the same length, the throwing member can not only be held at a considerable height, but aim can be taken as to the point where the missile is toland, and by having the throwing member of substantially the same length as the non-swinging member, with the end extendingbeyond the pivotal point, the throwing member can readily swing as the lower end will be held free from the ground, and at the same time the member will be long enough that the operating springs can be extended by the leverage of the member in simply pressing the same down by manual force.

In order that the throwing member may be pressed down easily by the operators I may provide a strip of wood 59, which projects above the side strips so the same will not injure the hands of the operators.

While I have shown three springs extending the full length of the catapult, it will be understood that the number of springs, as well as the size and tension, and also the composition of the same may be varied according to the distance and weight of the missile to be thrown.

The device is comparatively simple in construction, and compact as well as comparatively light, and also possesses great strength. By using the segment the force exerted on the operating springs is always uniformly distant from the pivotal point.

I claim:

1. A catapult comprising an elongated member adapted to be manually supported with one end resting on the ground and the other end in an elevated position, a throwing member pivotally mounted in the end adapted to be elevated of said first member, and means to swing said throwing member.

2. A catapult comprising an elongated member, means to manually support one end thereof in an elevated position with the other end engaging the ground, a'throw ing member pivotally mounted in the end adapted to be elevated, and means to swing said throwing member, for the purpose set forth.

3. A catapult comprising an elongated member, means to manually support one end thereof in an elevated position with the other end engaging the ground, a throwing member pivotally mounted in the end adapted to be elevated, and an elastic member connecting said members whereby the throwing member may be swung on its pivotal connection, for the purpose set forth.

4. A catapult comprising an elongated member, means to manually support one end thereof in an elevated position with the other end engaging the ground, a throwing member pivotally mounted in the end adapted to be elevated, an elastic member connecting said members whereby the throwing member may be swung on its pivotal connection, and means to locate the pulling :EOI'CGZOf said elastic member at a fixed distance from said pivotal connection throughout the swinging of said throwing member, for the purpose set forth.

5. A catapult comprising an elongated member, means to manually support one end thereof in an elevated position with the other end engaging the ground, a throwing member pivotally-mounted in the end adapted to be elevated, said throwing member having a segment mounted on one end thereof, and an elastic member connecting said throwing member and first-named member in a manner to travel on said segment during the swinging of said throwing member.

6. A catapult comprising an elongated member, means to manually support one end thereof in an elevated position with the other end engaging the ground, a throwing member pivotally mounted in the end adapt- I ed to be elevated, said throwing member having a segment mounted on one end thereof, and a spring connecting said throwing member and first-named member through a flexible strip passing around said segment, for the purpose set forth.

7. A catapult comprising a non-swinging, elongated member and a swinging member pivotally mounted on an end of the nonswinging. member, said catapult being adapted to be operated with one end of the non-swinging member on the ground and said first-named member adapted to be ele vated, and a spring connecting sald members, said throwing member having a segment with a grooved periphery all points of 9. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together in a manner whereby they may lie substantially parallel with each other, means to hold the end of one member on the ground and the other end in an elevated position with'the other member free to swing, and means to swing the last-named member.

10. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the end of one of said members whereby the latter member is'free to swing on the other, and is provided with a long end and a short end, means to hold said members in an inclined position substantially parallelto each other, the non-swinging member having a groundengaging end, and means to hold the groundengaging end of the non-swinging member against movement at the termination of the swinging of the other member.

11. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the end of one of the members in a manner whereby the members may lie substantially parallel with each other, one of said members being adapted to swing and having a long end and a short end, means to hold one end of the nonswinging member on the ground with the other end in an elevated position, and means to swing the swinging member with the end of the other resting on the ground.

12. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the end of one of said members whereby the latter member is free to swing on the other, and is provided with a long end and a short end, means to swing said member on the other and in the same vertical plane, and means to limit the movement of said members relative to each other whereby when extended they will form an obtuse angle at their point of intersection. V

13. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the end of one of said members in a manner whereby the latter member is free to swing and is provided with a long end and a short end, the non-swinging member having a divided end, means to hold one end of the nonswinging member on the ground with the divided end elevated, the swinging member being mounted insaid divided end, and 7 means to swing said member in said divided of substantiallythe same length pivotally connected together adjacent to'the endof one of said members in a manner whereby the latter member is freeto swing, the nonswinging member having a divided end, means'to hold one end of the non-swinging member on the ground with the divided end in an elevated position, the swinging member having a segment adapted to rotate in a limited manner in said divided end, and means engaging said segment adapted to swing said member. 7 r

15. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the-end of one of said members in a manner whereby the latter member is free to swing, and is provided with a long end and a short end, the non-swinging member being provided with a divided end and with a ground-engaging end, and the swinging member being mounted in said divided end, and an elastic member connecting said members, for the an elastic member connecting said members whereby said swinging member may be swung a prescribed distance, said elastic member being adapted to pass within said divided end.

17. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the end of one of the -members in a manner whereby the members may lie substantially parallel with each other and the latter member is provided with a long-end and a short end, the first-named member having a ground? engaging end, and a handle whereby the other end be held in anelevated position with the ground-engaging end on the gr0und, and means to swing the last-named member with the end of the other resting on the ground. V

18; A catapult comprising two me'mbers of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the end of one of said members whereby the lattermember is provided with a long end and-a short end and is free to swing, the non-swinging member having an end adapted to engage the ground, and having a frame work braced against strain in which said swinging member is mounted with the short end adapted to swing within said frame work, and an elastic member connecting said members through said frame work.

19. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the end of one of said members whereby the latter member is provided with a long end and a short end and is free to swing, the nonswinging member having an end adapted to engage the ground, and having a frame work braced against strain in which said swinging member is pivotally mounted with the short end adapted to swing within said frame work, and an elastic member connecting said members through said frame work, said swinging member vhaving a segment adapted to hold the force exerted by said elastic member at a substantially uniform distance from said pivotal connection during the swinging of said member.

20. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the endof one of said members whereby the latter member is provided with a long end and a short end and is free to swing, the nonswinging member having a frame work braced against strain in which said swinging member is pivotally mounted, an elastic member connecting said members in a manner to swing one of them, and means to protect said elastic member from contact with an external object.

21. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together adjacent to the end of one of said members whereby the latter member is provided with a long end and a short end and is free to swing, the nonsw-inging member having a frame work braced against strain in which said swinging member is'mounted with the short end adapted to swing in the same verticalplane, an elastic member connecting said members through said frame, and a stop adapted to limit the movement of the swinging member.

22. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally connected together in a manner whereby they may lie substantially parallel with each other, means to hold the end of one member on the ground with the other member-free to swing, means to swing the last-named member, and a trigger arrangement adapted to hold said members parallel with each other.

23. A catapult comprising two members of substantially the same length pivotally Copies of this patent may be obtained for connected together adjacent to the end of one of said members whereby the latter member is provided with a long end and a short end and is free to swing, a spring adjustably mounted on one member and engaging the other whereby the contraction of said spring causes the swinging member to move, a trigger arrangement adapted to hold the member against swinging, means to release said trigger arrangement, means to limit the movement of said members rela- 24. A catapult comprising a swingingmember and a non-swmgmg member plvotally connected together, a coil spring connecting said members, and a trigger arrangement adapted to hold said members substantially parallel with each other against the action of said spring, said nonswinging member being provided with a pair of handles whereby one end may be held in an elevated position, and a cord connecting said trigger arrangement and one of said handles whereby the trigger arrange-' mentmay be operated by the hand grasping one of'the handles. r

25. In a catapult, a member composed of two strips of steel bolted together with a spacing and strengthening object intervening between said strips, said member having a braced frame mounted on one end thereof. 26. The herein described catapult comprising two members one of which is composed of two strips of steel bolted together with an intervening spacing-and strengthening strip, and carries a braced frame on one end thereof, asecond member composed of two strips of steel secured together with two intervening spacing and strengthening strips, said member being pivotally mount ed in said braced frame and adapted to swing therein in the same vertical plane and carrying a" grooved segment, a spring adjustably mounted on said first-named member intermediate of said strips, a cord passing around said segment and connecting said spring and swinging member, a handle on the non-swinging member whereby one end thereof may be held in an elevated position, a prong adjustablymounted on the other end of said non-swinging member, and a trigger arrangement adapted to hold the members adjacent to each-other against the actionvof said spring.

Dated this 23rd day of January, 1917.

GARRY P. VAN WYE. 

